Improvement in organ-actions



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. E. LET1ON. ORGAN-ACTION.

Patented0ct.l0, 1876.

R. E, LETTON.

ORGAN-ACTION. z Eatented 0ct.10.1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BAPHAEL ELLETTON, QUINOY, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ORGAN-ACTIONS.

Speeifioation forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 83,012, dated October 10, 1876; application filed May 29, 1876.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BAPHAEL E. LETTON, of Quincy, in the connty of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented a new and nseful Improvement in Octave-Couplers, of Which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improved octaveconpler, and, in the present instance, is described as applied to an organ. It consists of the devices hereinafter more specifically described.

Figure lis a plan view of a device embodyin g the elements of the invention, showing the action-frame depressed. Fig. 2 is a rear clevation of same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of pedal operating the action-irame. Fig. 4 is an end elevation, showing depression of one jack, the case being broken ont. Fig. 5 is the reverse of Fig. 4:.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the case of an organ, npon the upper surface of Which are secured, as shown, the couplers B, the length of each being eqnal to an octave on the key-board. These conplers consist of metal bars, and are arranged, as shown, to rotate in the bloeks a, being operable by the keys of the instrument. The under side of each key is in the nsual relation to the upper end of each sticker, and is provided with a suitable cnshion, to secnre contact With the coupler B.

The action-frame H, in the present instance, consists of a frame composed of the front bar E and rear bar N, whieh are arranged parallel to the length of the case, and are suitably connected at each end by cross-pieces. The front of the frame is pivoted or otherwise suitably hinged to the sides or bottom A of the case, or to the sides of the case A by pivots or bearings. Below the rear portion of the frame is provided the spring B, to give it an elastic upward action. The rear of the barN is provided With the pivot-stands F, in each of which is pivoted the center of the rear part of one of thejacks D, the front part of which extends toward the key-ooard, its extremity beingimmediatel; belowoneendofthe coupler, and having an elastic upward action through the medinm of the spring t, so that when the coupler is depressed the front end of the jack D is also depressed, and the jack chus slightly rotating upon its pivot, its rear end is somewhat elevated. The ridge Z extends across the aetion-frame below and opposite the rear ends of the jacks, and serves to arrest the descent of said ends below the proper point, and to keep them in close contact With the actionframe. To the rear end of the jack is secured the pin I, in snob manner as to project downward and rearward, its lower end, when the jack is in its normal position, lying against the cushion 25, which serves t0 retain the front end of the jack properly elevated. The pin I is of snob length that, when the jack is operated by the coupler, as aforesaid, the rear end of the pin is thrown ont, 80 as to be directly over the button on the sticker L, the lower end of which is in contact with the elastio reed'valve M, its upper end being below, and so as to be acted npon by the descent of the key (not shown) in the nsual manner. It is therefore clear that any key can be played as desired withont affecting the jacks D.

The operation of the above mechanism may be thns described: A certain key is strnck. This sonnds the reed directly under the key, and at the same time rotates the coupler B, the opposite end of which aotnates the jack D an octave from the key struck, cansing the jack to operate, throwing out the pin I, and forcing clown the action-frameH, which brings clown With it the jack D and pin I, thereby operating the sticker L, and cansing the corresponding reed, which, for convenience of illustration, will be called Bel, to speak as long as the action-frame is depressed, all of the other stickers remaining elevated and the reeds silent, and the eonplers no longer elevated by the elastic action of the frame H, are lying fiat, so chat the reeds, or any one of them, including the one under the key which operated the reed Rel., may be sonnded as desired by playing the keys, the reed Bel. sonnding, meantime, and continuing t0 sonnd nntil the action-frame is allowed to rise, which permits the ascent of the sticker, and determines the sound of the reed Bel.

For the purpose of operating the actionframe H, a stop or knee-pedal, S, is provided, the rear end of which is pivoted to the under side of the case A, its front formed into a upper end of which is rigidly attached to one end of the rock-shaft W, working in bearings in the brackets c, and provided at the end last aforesaid With the arm X, which extends through a vertical slot in the case A, having its end therein in contact With the upper surface of one and of the action-frame H, so that,

When it is desired to retain the action-frame in its depressed position, it is oniy necessary to operate the pedal S, the movement of which depresses the action-frame, the elastic action of which restores the pedal to its initial position as soon as the pressure on the pedai is removed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An organ or analogous wind instrument in which the octave of a certain reed or note is sounded and may be prolonged as desired, whiie*said reed or any other reed or reeds, note or notes, except said octave, may be sounded at wiil, substantiily as speeified.

2. An elastic action-frame carrying a vibrating jack or other equivalent means of operating the sound-producng clament of an organ or other analogous wind instrument, substantialiy as specified.

3. An action-frame for organs and analogous wind instruments, having an eiastic tension, as described, in combination With a means of operating the sticker-pn, substantially as speoified.

4. An aotion-frame for organs and analogous wind instruments, having an elastic tension, as described, in combination with an 00- tave-coupler, si1bstantially as specified.

5. An action-frame for organs and analogous wind instruments, pivoted or hinged at one side, and having an elastic tension at the other, substantially as specified.

6. An action-frame for organs and analogous wind instruments, which, being depressed, permits, and being released, datermines, the operation of the sound-prodncng element of the instrument, substantially as specified.

7. In an organ or analogous wind instrument, the p edal S and draw-rod T, in combination with an elastic action-frame, substan-' tiaily as speoified. 7

8. The coupler B, in combination with the yibrating pivoted jack D, substantially as specified. v 9. The combination of a coupler, mounted upon au elastic action-frame, Wth' a jack hav* ing an elastic action, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I daim the foregoing improvement in octave-couplers, as above .de scribed, I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of May, 1876.

Witnesses:

CALEB M. POMROY, EDWIN A. CLARKE.

RAPHAEL E. LETTON. v 

